As a recent YouGov poll demonstrated, young adults in Britain are increasingly keen to get down and dirty in outdoor spaces. This trend is propelled by the lack of safe housing and decreased personal space. The study highlights that 40% of 18 to 24-year-olds still live with their parents, which many believe is negatively impacting their sex lives. In a country where homeownership is becoming increasingly unattainable, the situation is described as a “nightmare version” for the younger generation.
The survey results are alarming, with 56% of respondents experiencing disruptions that required them to stop sexual activities. This illustrates just how pervasive these disruptions are. This statistic puts a face on the broader problem of lost privacy among young adults. As housing options limit access to private space, more people are turning to public settings for sexual interactions.
The typical Briton has penetrative sex about 68 times a year, according to the Office for National Statistics. Nonetheless, this self-reported average for the entire surveyed population of young adults was only 35 times per year on average. This gap is alarming when you consider the sexual well-being of this population. Most remarkably, perhaps, it underscores a huge disconnect between what they want and where they’re forced to live.
Public spaces have become the solution for many of these young adults. Interestingly, 22% of respondents confessed that they’d had sexual encounters in public restrooms. In another unexpected category, 18% admitted to fooling around in cars. This trend is part of a large shift in how young people use technology to communicate intimacy. It frequently comes out a need for better private spaces.
The difficulty of living at home may create lasting impacts on young adults’ relationships and personal lives. Nearly two-fifths of lesbian and bi women respondents said their current living situation prevents them from having healthy sexual lives. These challenges do not just take a toll on their physical intimacy but create emotional tension and unfulfillment.
As the culture around them changes, young adults are still the first to change their habits to fit what their environment allows them to do. The increase in public sexual encounters is an innovative solution to a feature that is becoming increasingly problematic. This trend sheds light on a striking and unfortunate truth about the housing crisis — that is how it has affected romantic relationships.